In re Dwyer

Opinion

BARROW, J.

The petitioner, an adult who was adopted as a child, appeals the denial of her petition to set aside the adoption. She contends that the adoption was void for lack of jurisdiction because she was fourteen years old at the time of the adoption order and did not consent to the adoption. See Carlton v. Paxton, 14 Va. App. 105, 112-13, 415 S.E.2d 600, 604, aff'd en banc, 15 Va. App. 265, 422 S.E.2d 423 (1992). We hold that the adoptive father was a necessary party to the proceeding to set aside the adoption and should have been formally made a party to it. For this reason, we…